Robert Wilson Evans

1936-2014

Robert Wilson Evans, 78, of South Shore, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, April 17, 2014, in SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth, Ohio.

He was born April 13, 1936, in Greenup, a son of Woodrow Wilson Evans and Edna Irene Brown Evans. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Larry (Carol) Evans and Dale (Charlene) Evans; a sister, Garnett (Jack) Fyffe; and his mother-in-law, Darlena (Alex) Ratliff.

He was married to Geneva Mae Ratliff Evans on Oct. 29, 1955.

Robert was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was retired from the former Empire Detroit Steel in New Boston, Ohio, where he worked in the blast furnace.

Surviving are his wife, Geneva Mae Evans, of South Shore; four children, James (Tina) Evans of Seymour, Ind., John (April) Evans of Columbus, Ind., Joseph (Stacy) Evans of Greenup, and Janene (James) Hoffman of Sadieville; two brothers, William (Francesca) Evans of Dayton, Ohio, and  Douglas (Donna) Evans of Inez; four sisters, Janice (Gene) Rainey of Wurtland, Virginia Evans of Milford, Ohio, Doris (Robert) Bellew of Wurtland and Dean (Bill) Oakes of Worthington; 11 grandchildren, Jeremy (Melissa) Evans of West Union, Ohio, Ashley (Travis) Anderson of Columbus, Ind., Josh (Kaitlynn) Evans of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Erin Evans of Wheelersburg, Ohio, Alyssa Evans of Columbus, Kristin Evans of Columbus, Isaac Evans of Columbus, Tyler Evans of Greenup, Jacob Evans of Greenup, Alexia Evans of Greenup, and Whitney (Alex) Berger of Louisville; two great-grandchildren, Amelia Evans of West Union and Hayley Berger of Louisville.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at Sunshine United Methodist Church in South Shore by the Rev. David Herndon, Brother William Oakes and Brother Terry Fyffe.

Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery in South Shore with military graveside services by James Dickey American Legion Post 23 of Portsmouth.

Friends may call 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Services are by Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore.

Condolences may be sent to robersonfuneral.com.

Joyce Ann Keleher

1937-2014

Joyce Ann Keleher, 76, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., formerly of Greenup, died April 7, 2014, in Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres, following an extended battle with cancer.  

Joyce was born September 21, 1937, in Bennett, a daughter of the late Edward L. and Eva Mae Bradley Johnson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, David M. Keleher; and an infant son, Kevin M. Keleher.

Joyce was a 1955 graduate of Greenup High School and attended Morehead State University where she was a varsity cheerleader. She was a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ and was a member of the Greenup Christian Church.

Prior to her and her husband Dave’s move to Florida ,they lived for more than 30 years in Columbus, Ohio. She was active and accomplished in women’s golf circles in the Columbus area. She was a member of several Ohio women’s golf organizations, winning multiple club, local and state tournaments. She was an avid Ohio State University football fan and loved spending time with her beloved dogs. Joyce was a special friend to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.   

She is survived by two brothers, Roger (Alice Kay) Johnson of Load and Darwin (Sally) Johnson of Floyds Knobs, Ind.; a special niece, Joetta (Naymon) Campbell of Havana, Fla., and their children, Kenton Colley and Kayla Clifton; and nephews, Kyle and Nick Johnson of Floyds Knob.

A memorial service to honor the lives of Joyce Ann and David Keleher was held Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Greenup Christian Church by Pastor Mike Dennis.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Greenup Christian Church.

Reed Funeral Home in Greenup was in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be made at reedfuneralhome.us.

Keen “Jack” Fannin

1927-2014

Keen “Jack” Fannin, 86, of South Shore, died Friday, April 18, 2014 in SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth, Ohio.

He was born Oct. 31, 1927, in South Shore.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Pruitt Fannin.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at South Shore First Christian Church.

Burial will be in Collier Memorial Gardens in South Portsmouth.

Friends may call after noon Tuesday at the church.

Roberson Funeral Home in South Shore is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at robersonfuneral.com.

Alberta Conley Smith Skaggs

1936-2014

Alberta Conley Smith Skaggs, 78, of Ashland, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 13, 2014, in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

Mrs. Skaggs was born Jan. 2, 1936, in Ashland, a daughter of the late Hobert and Francis Rice Conley. She was also preceded in death by two husbands, the Rev. Amos Smith and the Rev. Jack Skaggs; brothers Bythel Conley and Hobert Conley Jr.; and a sister, Iris Porter.

Alberta worked for Kentucky Farmers Bank and the Ashland Independent School District. She loved singing, crossword puzzles, sewing crafts and reading, but most of all she loved being a pastor’s wife and cherished her role in the church, where she made many dear friendships in her life.

Survivors include her children, Steve Skaggs and his wife, Edie, of Flatwoods, Carol Ray and her husband, Ken, of Ashland, Jack Skaggs and his wife, Regina, of Jonesville, Va., Anita Gaskins and her husband, Robert, of Louisville, Randy Skaggs and his wife, Kathy, of Ashland, and Thomas Smith of Schertz, Texas; 21 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers Otto Conley (Dottie), Gene Conley (Joyce) and Bobby Ray Conley (Marylyn), all of Kentucky; sisters Geraldine Briggs (Ralph) of Texas and Agnes Lyon of Louisa; brother-in-law Bob Porter; sisters-in-law Marie Conley, Dorothy Conley, Bertha Franklin and Ada Woods; special brother-in-law Sam Lyon (Venda Lee); and her dear, sweet friend, Betsy Arnett.

The funeral was held Friday, April 18, 2014, at England Hill Freewill Baptist Church. The Rev. Randy Skaggs officiated, with special words by her brother, the Rev. Otto Conley.

Final rest will be in Catlettsburg Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the England Hill Freewill Baptist Church Building Fund, 10201 Mayo Trail Road, Catlettsburg, KY 41129.

Neal Funeral Home in Catlettsburg is in charge of arrangements.

Franklin Delano Shortridge

1942-2014

Franklin Delano Shortridge, 71, of Ashland, passed away April 14, 2014, in King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.  

He  was born June 30, 1942, in Louisa, to the late Henry and Ruth Ester Rice Shortridge. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, George Jr. (Opal), Charles (Connie), Goldie (Tony) Vasileff, Barbara (Kermit) Collins, Bonnie (Fred) Hillman, Adam, Peg (Joe) Spillman, Effie and Glen Richard; and his first wife, Linda Patton Shortridge.  

Franklin attended Louisa High School where he played for the LHS Bulldogs, lettering three years in football. He was awarded the General Educational Development credential. He worked for Price Brothers Concrete in Dayton, Ohio, for four years and retired from AK Steel after 33 years of service.

He performed with his band, Kings of Clubs, at Rockdale and Echo Canyon and throughout the Tri-State area.

Surviving are his loving wife, Mary Hendricks Shortridge of Ashland; five children, Jeff (Tina) Shortridge of London, Ami (Matthew) Pack of Louisa, Dr. Brenna (Brad) Pearce, Emily (Charlie) Allen of Ashland and Mariah Shortridge of Ashland; 11 grandchildren, Jeff, Taylor and Sidney Shortridge, Matthew, Morgan, Peyton and Mason Pack, Wyatt Toller and Hannah Allen, Maxwell Pearce and Brendyn Smith; a sister, Charlotte (Mick) Woods; and many treasured nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, April 19, 2014, at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland by the Rev. Jennifer Johnson.

Burial was in Ashland Cemetery.

Franklin loved his family, good friends, Cleveland Browns football, Johnny Cash, “Gunsmoke,” thunderstorms and children. In his own words “Never say goodbye. I’ll see you in a minute.”

Condolences may be sent to steenfuneralhome.com.

Sherry Lynn Stevens

1965-2014

Sherry Lynn Stevens, 48, of Westwood, passed away at her residence on April 14, 2014.   

She was born Aug. 11, 1965, in Ashland, to the late Oscar Curtis and Delores Ann Gibbs Wheeler. She was also preceded in death by a brother, William C. Wheeler, in 2009.  

Sherry  worked as a housekeeper and was a member of American Legion Post 76.  

She is survived by her sons, Joshua Allen Stevens and Justin Warren Stevens, both of Westwood; a daughter, Christina LeeAnn Stevens of Westwood; brothers Jody Allen Wheeler of Greenup and Samuel Timothy Wheeler (Jean) of Russell; sisters Debra Ann Bayless (David) of Elizabethtown, Linda Sue Dennis of Greenup County and Brenda Kay Crank (Danny R.) of Wisconsin; and two precious grandchildren, Autumn Hale and Mersadie Stevens.

The funeral was conducted Friday, April 18, 2014, at Steen Funeral Home-13th Street Chapel by the Rev. Chuck McCormick.

Burial was in Golden Oaks Memorial Gardens in Ashland.   

Condolences may be sent to steenfuneralhome.com.